State psychiatric prison under federal scrutiny

A federally funded watchdog group has launched an investigation into the treatment of inmates at Bridgewater State Hospital psychiatric prison.

By The Associated Press

BOSTON — A federally funded watchdog group has launched an investigation into the treatment of inmates at Bridgewater State Hospital psychiatric prison.

The state Department of Correction confirmed Wednesday that lawyers from the Disability Law Center arrived at the medium-security prison Tuesday to meet with administrators, gather records, and meet with patients.

The investigation comes in the wake of reports that guards and clinicians are illegally putting mentally ill inmates and patients into physical restraints and isolation cells.

The Disability Law Center is designated under federal law to investigate complaints about the abuse of disabled people. It said in a letter to state officials it has “deep concern about the amount of restraint and seclusion.”